Bhola Kataky, a stalwart figure of the Assamese cine world, was born in Sangiya Majorchuk, Jamugurihat on January 20, 1935. His father was Ghanashyam Kataky and Manima Kataky was his mother. He did his primary education at Gereki LPS in the year 1940 and passed the HSLC from the then Jamuguri High School in 1954 in first division. After it, he got admission in Darrang College and passed I.A with flying colours in 1956.
As a student of Darang College, he participated in the 3rd Inter-University Youth Festival held in Delhi in 1955-56 and won the best playwright, director, the best team and actor awards for his play Bibhraat. The theatre troupe of Gauhati University under the supervision of Dr Maheshwar Neog had won so many awards together for a single play in this Youth Festival, which was attended by 55 universities of the country. Bibhraat was written and directed by this young theatre artist and won all these awards. He had written 15 plays and four full-length plays and made his native place, district and state shine at the national level as well.
Kataky served as an Inspector in the Apex Marketing Co-operative Society of the State Government for two years. He was the founder headmaster of Rangachakuwa MES and served for four years as headmaster from 1959-63. He later quit the job of teacher and took up acting as career. He was inspired by Jyoti Prasad Agrawal and Bishnu Prasad Rabha.
Bhola Kataky is a familiar name in the Assamese theatre and cinema world as well. Kataky performed various roles, including Dr Bhabendranath Saikia's Anirban, Sadari of Pulak Gogoi, Raja by Samarendra Narayan Dev, Jalanjali by Upen Barua, Urbarshi by Dara Ahmed, besides popular Assamese TV serials that include Deuta by Biju Phukan, Surya Hazarika's Brikodar Baruar Biya, Betal by Upen Barua etc. The spectacular scenes where he performed are still alive in the minds of film lovers.
Bhola Kataky has acted in theatre troupes for 13 years and has acted in more than 200 plays. Bhola Kataky was a strong stage actor in the Assamese theatre since 1963 and a talented actor in films. He joined the Nataraj Theatre of Achyut Lahkar in 1963 and later acted in various theatre groups. He came in close contact with Hemang Biswas, Dr Bhupen Hazarika, Bishnu Rava, Salil Chowdhury and Shonit Konwar Gajen Barua.
He was a recipient of the Natasurya Phani Sharma Award awarded by the State Government, Natasurya Award by the Kalaguru Foundation (Zubeen Garg), Lifetime Achievement Award by the Assam Film Development Corporation, Moonlight Media Award and the Jyotirupa Media Award along with lifetime achievement award by Axam Xahitya Xabha, Assam Natya Sammelan etc. The cine artiste breathed his last on November 4 this year at the age of 87.
Kataky was closely associated with many socio-cultural organizations of the greater Jamugurihat area. His demise is considered to be a great loss to the socio-cultural life of the greater Jamugurihat area, Assamese cine world and Assamese mobile theatre world as well. Today, on the day of his adya shraddha, I pray to the Almighty for eternal peace of his great soul.
- Anjan Baskota
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